A hinge having securing features includes a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and at least one securing feature configured for securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point.
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9. A hinge with securing features, the hinge comprising:
a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, said first frame association end and said nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of said first hinge body portion;
a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in said nesting cavity of said first hinge body portion, said second frame association end and said nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of said second hinge body portion, wherein said first hinge body portion and said second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point such that said first hinge body portion is configured to rotate 180° relative to said second hinge body portion; and
at least one securing feature for securing said nesting body within said nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of said first body portion relative to said second body portion about said pivot point, wherein said at least one securing feature includes an outer pin opening extending through a first side and a second opposite side of said first hinge body and an inner pin opening formed in said second hinge body, wherein when said nesting body is fully positioned within said nesting cavity, said outer pin opening and said inner pin opening are axially aligned.
1. A hinge with securing features, the hinge comprising:
a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, said first frame association end and said nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of said first hinge body portion;
a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in said nesting cavity of said first hinge body portion, said second frame association end and said nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of said second hinge body portion, wherein said first hinge body portion and said second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point such that said first hinge body portion is configured to rotate 180° relative to said second hinge body portion; and
at least one securing feature for securing said nesting body within said nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of said first body portion relative to said second body portion about said pivot point, wherein said at least one securing feature includes at least one outer pin opening extending from an outer surface of said first hinge body to said nesting cavity and at least one inner pin opening extending from a first side of said nesting body to a second, opposite side of said nesting body, said outer pin opening and said inner pin opening being axially aligned when said nesting body is fully inserted into said nesting cavity.
2. The hinge of
3. The hinge of
4. The hinge of
5. The hinge of
at least one pin configured for disposal through said at least one outer pin opening into said at least one inner pin opening only when said nesting body is fully nested in said nesting opening.
6. The hinge of
7. The hinge of
8. The hinge of
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This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/533,574 filed on Sep. 12, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/665,701 filed on Jun. 28, 2012, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The disclosure relates generally to a hinge, and more particularly to a hinge with securing features.
Retractability of a bimini top for a tower structure that is associable with a watercraft is a desirable feature in that it allows the top to be stored in an efficient manner. Typically, such retractability is achieved via a hinges that hold tensioned frame portions of the top together. Hinges that are currently on the market and used for this purpose employ flat against flat hinge portion surfaces that are held together via an Axel pin (see prior art
However, such known hinge assemblies have drawbacks in that there is no connection between the two hinge portions or cylinders, resulting in both slack and stress (from the tension of the frame towards a folded/stowed position) in a relatively small support area. This slack and stress can cause the pin to bend and the hinge to fail at holding the frame in an open position.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for hinge that more effectively holds the frame in an open position.
Disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and at least one securing feature configured for securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point.
Also disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion defining a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, at least one outer pin opening defined by the first hinge body portion, the at least one outer pin opening communicating the nesting cavity with an environment ambient the said first hinge body portion, at least one inner pin opening defined by the nesting body, the at least one inner pin opening being alignable with the at least one outer pin opening when the nesting body is nested in the nesting opening, and at least one pin configured for disposal through the at least one outer pin opening into the at least one inner pin opening when the nesting body is nested in the nesting opening, the disposal of the at least one pin securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point.
Further disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion defining a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and a spring loaded latch extending from the first body portion, the spring loaded latch being configured to prevent rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point via interaction with a flange extending from the second body portion.
Referring to
The second body portion 14 includes a nesting body portion 18 that is configured for nesting within a nesting cavity 20 defined by the first body portion 12. In
Referring to
In addition to inclusion of securing features such as the nesting cavity 20, nesting body 18, and the pin openings disposed therewith, the first body portion 12 and second body portion 14 also define a first frame association cavity 30 and a second frame association cavity 32. The first frame association cavity 30 is disposed at an end of the first body portion 12 that is opposite an end defining the nesting cavity 20. Similarly, the second frame association cavity 32 is disposed at an end of the second body portion 14 that is opposite an end including the nesting body 18. As shown in
In
However, when the bimini top 36 is configured into the open position, as shown in
In practice, the nesting body 18 keeps bodies 12, 14 aligned, assuring a stable hinge joint in both directions, and eliminating stress on the hinge pivot point 16. Passing of the side entry pin 28 through the outer openings 24, 26 in the two walls of the first body portion 12 (which is the forward body in an exemplary embodiment) as well as the pin opening 22 in the nesting body 18 allows for continuous support, while evenly distributing the forces on the pin 28 and stabilizing the entire assembly.
Referring to
The second body portion 104 includes a nesting body (not shown, but that same or substantially the same as nesting body 18) that is configured for nesting within a nesting cavity (not shown, but that same or substantially the same as nesting cavity 20) defined by the first body portion 102. Similarly to that which is shown in
As shown in
It should also be appreciated that the elements of devices 10 and 100 may variously be made of any desirable hinge material, such as but not limited to various metals and hard plastics.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Hamilton, Joseph, Hamilton, Timothy, Mazzarelli, David, Cegelka, Nicholas, Perosino, Gregory, Hissong, Michael, DeLisle, Brian
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Sep 12 2012 | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Nov 20 2012 | PEROSINO, GREGORY | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | HAMILTON, JOSEPH | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | HAMILTON, TIMOTHY | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | MAZZARELLI, DAVID | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | CEGELKA, NICHOLAS | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | DELISLE, BRIAN | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 | |
Nov 20 2012 | HISSONG, MICHAEL | COMMERCIAL SEWING, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029331 | /0799 |
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